Denim Smartphone Handset

If there is one thing that I have learned about fashion throughout my relatively short life here on earth (I am right now going through what they call the middle of the second half of my two score years), it is this – fashion statements get recycled from time to time, so if you happen to have this hot fashion item back in the days of your youth, do not throw it out! It might eventually return to style one of these days, and who knows, by then you might have a vintage piece in your closet. Jeans and denim, however, rarely go out of style, and if it is good enough for Steve Jobs, it should be good enough for everyone. Style just called with the £39.99 Denim Smartphone Handset, where it sports a classic ‘telephone-style’ design, being covered in high-quality denim.

There is also a 0.25” audio cable that will plug into the headphone socket, and the Denim Smartphone Handset plays nice with all smartphones that are in the market at the moment. This is definitely the device or accessory to tote around when you want to make a fashion statement, telling the world that you are an ’80s kid.

Angry Birds Flash Drives

You know the old saying, a bird in hand is worth two in the bush. Well, with the Angry Birds Flash Drives, it is worth 4GB worth of storage space on the go. You are able to choose from King Piggy, Red Bird, White Bird and Yellow Bird designs. Throwing these around are not going to help you in any way though, as the data inside might just give way to your anger, so toting these in your pocket or notebook bag is the best way to travel.

       Made out of high quality rubber, these unique avian friends and a porker would be ideal to stash away all of your crucial information or even family photos, music videos, movies and MP3 files. It does not matter, really, although we would have liked to see the Blue Bird design and see each of these split into three different flash drives magically when you plug it into your computer. Of course, that will not happen, but it would be cute nonetheless. The Angry Birds Flash Drives will retail for £14.99 a pop. 

Japanese Wrist-Mounted Finger Piano

Here is a way to play the piano like a boss – the Japanese way, of course. After all, who wants to lug around a really huge and heavy piano, and a keyboard is a poor substitute when it comes to the actual warm sound of a piano? Enter the $39.99 Japanese Wrist-Mounted Finger Piano to save the day – this new musical instrument hails from the Land of the Rising Sun, and all you need to do is slip it on your wrist, coax your fingers into the tiny enclosures (which will comfortably cover your fingertips), and you are good to go.

       Just how do you play it though? Individual finger bits will play a note when you press it on a hard surface, and when you add a trio of buttons/notes to the top of the wrist unit, you end up with an entire octave of fun. There are three volume levels and a trio of sound banks. The latter, its sound banks, are what makes the entire Japanese Wrist-Mounted Finger Piano really special. You are able to play piano (sound 1) or bells (sound 2), as well as the third sound – cat. Who wants to play cats all the night through? 

Concord Keystone ECO Booster 2.0 portable battery pack

       Owning a whole lot of portable devices these days is the norm for many of us, and if there is one bane of modern electronics, it would be battery power. Or rather, the lack of it. Concord Keystone knows this, and hence decides to step forward and offer something that will definitely appeal to frequent travelers – the Concord Keystone ECO Booster 2.0 portable battery pack. This is an extremely slim and lightweight 2,000 mAh Li-Polymer portable battery pack which will cater for smartphones such as those from the Android and iOS front, more or less doubling battery life in the process when plugged in.

       At the moment, the Keystone ECO Booster 2.0 can be said to be the only portable battery pack which features a built-in retractable microUSB charging cable. That is great, as it translates to carrying around one less cable, and will also help save space in your luggage whenever you travel. All you need to do is pull out the retractable microUSB cable when your device needs charging, and a blue LED indicator will light up to inform you that charging is taking place. Apart from that, it will also show off the remaining power level in the battery pack. Measuring a mere 0.4″ in terms of thickness and tipping the scales at 2.5 oz, it is the perfect traveling companion.

Thumbs Up Ear iPhone case

 

If you happen to be one of the millions around the world who owns an iPhone, then surely you would not have left it at that – all alone without a case at all, nor a protective screen cover of sorts to make sure that no scratches will mark it when you drop your precious phone or knock it against something else by accident.

Well, why not make a meal out of the entire situation with the Thumbs Up Ear Case for the iPhone? This is definitely not the chic-est case out there, but it will definitely be able to draw attention towards you whenever someone stumbles upon you talking on it. 

Star Wars Death Star Electronic Attack Shirt

The Death Star is one of the most feared “weapons” in the hand of the Galactic Republic – I mean, something as large as a moon which could destroy an entire planet with a single blast of energy? I wonder what kind of fuel that puppy runs on, certainly nuclear is not the way to go considering the amount of juice it pumps out to obliterate a planet. Wear this symbol of fear on your chest with the $29.99 Star Wars Death Star Electronic Attack Shirt – where it will work out a blast sequence that includes the superlaser power-up and fire.

       Glowing EL technology and an embedded white LED will be there for added final blast effects, and no pixie dust is used to get the sound out, as a wired speaker box does the job just as well, albeit it is hidden inside the shirt or it can be stored in your pocket. Powered by a quartet of AAA batteries, I am not sure how many blasts that would take before the batteries run out of power.

Eye Asteroids requires no hands

 

Some of you might remember Asteroids, a game where you control a triangle that shoots at some oblong shapes that become smaller oblong shapes until they are utterly destroyed.

Yes, we have come a long way from the Vector graphics of eighties games of the past, and this new version of the classic game, also known as Eye Asteroids. Eye Asteroids requires no joystick, but all the controls are the player’s eyes.

       You can watch the video after the jump of the eye-controlled game in action. You will note the graphics are more advanced, and the user plays a giant planet instead of that triangle that was supposed to be a spaceship.

       All that is required is looking at what you will shoot, and in case you are wondering, it does work for gamers with glasses. The game is created by Tobii, which is only planning on making 50 of these machines at $15,000 each. In case you are wondering, that is pretty expensive for a stand-up arcade game.

       I suppose that this could be a whole new beginning of eye-controlled devices. What I hope that I never see are real eye-controlled guns. In a video game like Asteroids, you have to hit everything just to survive to the next level. In real war, shooting accidents happen. 

Swivl automated mobile device

Swivl – the name itself is very modern and forward looking, and I am happy to say that it is already available for pre-order. Just what is the Swivl? It is rather hard to tell at first glance, but this is in essence, an automated mobile device which will allow you to capture your movements on your mobile device, without having to keep your hands occupied. All you need to do is to let it hold your iPhone, iPod touch, Flip camcorder or even GoPro camera, where it will then follow both horizontally and vertically in order to maintain your presence in the frame.

       This is made possible thanks to the inclusion of a sensor marker inside. As long as you own a device like an iPhone or Android handset that is under 11mm in thickness, it is good to go, while there is also a tripod option to mount pocket cameras like the Flip and GoPro. The Swivl is slightly biased towards Apple devices though, since it can be juiced when docked. Place your pre-order for one now at $159.99, where it will ship in North America from early next year onwards. 

BookBook for iPhone

Want to read a book? You might be able to do so by loading up an e-book on your iPhone, assuming your precious Apple smartphone is encased in the rather odd looking £49.99 BookBook for iPhone case. Yes sir, this unique addition intends to spruce up your smartphone life by merging the convenience of a wallet and a phone holder in a single offering. This genuine leather case will not only offer adequate protection for your iPhone against any knocks and scratches, it also doubles up as a wallet to stash all your savings for the future iPhone 5 purchase.

      
       Not only that, it comes with all the bells and whistles of a wallet such as the relevant segments for credit cards, a clear window for your photo ID, as well as a space to stash notes – just in case, you know, your iPhone runs out of battery and you desperately need to jot down a particular figure. The iPhone will fit in nicely into the specially-designed pouch, and I guess you would do well to use a Bluetooth headset with this, unless you don’t mind opening and closing the BookBook often if you’re a busy person. 

Your iPhone 4S's proximity sensor's working overtime -- thank Siri (video)

As far as assistants go, Siri can be rather demanding. In fact, she apparently requires that your iPhone 4S's proximity sensor be on whenever the handset's screen is activated. That's the conclusion iFixit arrived at, upon discovering that, unlike previous generations which flip on the sensor upon firing up a phone call or Skype conversation, the 4S kicks on the infrared detectors whenever the screen turns on. The change would allow Siri to detect just how close your face is as you speak to her without the handset pressed up against your face. More details in the video after the break.

Honda's Small Sports EV concept proves electric can be svelte, comes to Tokyo Motor Show next month

 Honda fans, hope you're down for some last-minute tickets to Japan, as the automaker plans to release not one, but seven (!) stunning concepts at the upcoming Tokyo Motor show. Ranging from plug-in hybrids to electric motorcycles, we're most stoked about the Small Sports EV -- a dashing two-seat roadster that reminds us stylistically of BMW's i8. Details are light, but Honda promises that it'll be fun to drive, yet also achieve "excellent environmental performance." Alongside it is the plug-in hybrid AC-X, which looks like an LED-ridden redux of the lease-only FCX. And finally, there's the Micro Commuter concept, which despite looking the least production-ready of the three, gets kudos for having a dedicated spot to load the accompanying Motor Compo EV motorcycle. 

CPR Racing debuts Energica electric streetbike prototype at EICMA 2011

You might not need an electric streetbike in the near future, but it's still cool to know that the prototype is complete. CRP Racing has just introduced the Energica at the EICMA motorcyle show in Italy. The Energica slides an all-electric powertrain with 100kW of power into a classic Italian-style two wheeler the is capable of speeds up to 220 km/h, 16kgm of torque, and 150km of range on a single charge, features OZ forged aluminum braking discs and a power train efficiency around 95 percent. The niftiness is only compounded by front double caliper radial mounts, a single rear fixed caliper, digital multifunction LCD dashboard and LED headlights. Pricing begins with a deposit of €1,500 ($2042 US) and doesn't include VAT. Of course, the Energica is still in the development phase, so final pricing and specifications might change. Still, if an electric streetbike isn't at least as cool as a penguin in a freezer, then something's wrong with your freezer. 

Jawbone UP targets a healthier you

I know that most of us do have a fitness regime of sorts, even if it involves lifting up the remote control, but the undeniable fact is this – if you want to keep fit and stay trim, don’t you think that it is about time you got off the sofa, stopped snacking on chips and fizzy drinks and start sweating it out at the gym? Yes sir, that is what I’m talking about, and Jawbone wants to help you out with the Jawbone UP – where it has been described as a “revolutionary system” which comprises of a small wristband and an app on your iPhone and iPod touch.

       Both the software and the hardware will work in tandem in order to track your daily activity, sleep patterns, as well as eating habits so that you are better able to live a healthier life. Since we all know that most people last longer when they exercise in groups due to motivational factors as well as having peers to cheer you onwards, the Jawbone UP will also integrate a social experience as you can subscribe to personal and team challenges which are specifically tailored to help you achieve your goals. 

Icon Solo Flashlight

Some of you might remember when we reviewed the ICON Link, and I had a chance to review the ICON Solo, the dual-output LED Flashlight.

       The ICON Solo flashlight is a different shape than the Link, as it is as long as a pen, but slightly thicker than a normal one. The power switch is a lot like a pen as well. You click for low output, release or click off, and then push or click on again within two seconds, for high output. The ICON Solo has a low lumen output of 5 and a high lumen output of 30. It has a total runtime of 50 hours.

       The clip attachment makes it easy to carry, but doesn’t have the security of carabiner clip that the Link has. Like the Link, it has a high-strength aluminum body, and it is weatherproof as it is sealed with O-rings.

DIY Wrist-mounted crossbow

 

I always like seeing DIY projects like this, especially if they are weapons. This wrist-mounted crossbow looks like it could do more than a little damage.

       Designed by Patrick Priebe, it would have been already been classified as one of our coolest gadgets if he would have just made a wrist-mounted crossbow. Instead, the creator took it a step further and gave it a laser sight.

       You can watch the video after the jump to see it hit some balloons, light bulbs, soda cans, and other targets. You will note how accurate that it is, and you can see how it is powered by two AA batteries. 

       It reminds me of something that James Bond had in Moonraker with a wrist-mounted dart launcher. Granted, that movie was one of the worst and completely unbelievable of the Bond films, and I suppose that you have to again suspend your disbelief in order to accept that such a device like this could ever be concealed.

       Yeah, I’m not certain what situation would call for a weapon such as this. Perhaps it would look awesome in some movie, like some sort of Mad Max genre. I don’t know. The issue is that we here at gadgetarium know what gadgets are cool and innovative, and this is one of them.

Tick Tock iPhone Alarm Clock

I must take my hats off to the traditional alarm clocks that tend to create quite a din in an effort to get you up and running to face a brand new day, but after a while, their incessant ringing might actually help you get out of bed – on the wrong side, unfortunately. Don’t you think it would be better if you could wake up to a tune of your choice, or perhaps even to your favorite DJ on a radio station? Why, with the advent of iPhone accessories, you are now able to do so – and what better way than to merge the old and the new in the form of the 59.99 Tick Tock iPhone Alarm Clock?

       Sure, the Tick Tock iPhone Alarm Clock might come in its classic round face and twin bell design, but that doesn’t mean it will ring its way through the morning and make a pest of itself. No sir, it is a modern docking station that will hold your precious iPhone inside when you go to bed at night (while juicing it up at the same time, of course), sporting a couple of 360 omni-directional full-range speakers so that your ears (and perhaps your partner in bed) will wake up to rich, multi-directional sound.

       Other features include a built-in FM radio, an LCD display for FM/aux/alarm/time/date functions, five preset alarms and time synchronization with your iDevice. Want a more conventional alarm clock setup? That can be accomplished by pivoting the dock out of the way.

Soft Kitty Singing Plush

There is just something about plushies that soften the heart – and the $29.99 Soft Kitty Singing Plush is one of them. This is an officially-licensed Big Bang Theory product, where whenever you press its paw, it will start crooning “Soft Kitty” so that your emotions will be soothed, and no matter how dark the clouds are on the outside, a silver lining would most probably present itself at the most opportune moment.

       Measuring 10″ in length, the Soft Kitty Singing Plush will boast a collar that has a little Bohr-model atom tag coupled with the Big Bang Theory logo. You will need a trio of 1.5V button-cell batteries to get this going, forget about giving it some Friskies. At least there is no kitty litter to pick up after, and you need not worry about boarding issues and vaccination jabs when you go traveling. The Soft Kitty Singing Plush is made out of polyester fiber and just like any other self-respecting feline, hates water – so don’t send it to the washing machine, but use a damp cloth instead. 

Panasonic does the 3D gig with Lumix DMC-3D1

Stereoscopic 3D is the way to go where the future is concerned, but it will still take a fair bit of time before it catches up with the masses. After all, not everyone is lining up and rushing to purchase a 3D HDTV, and you don’t see a mad craze for all movies to be shown in 3D glory although you might say that film executives think otherwise. If you have a 3D-capable HDTV sitting at home (preferably part of the Panasonic ecosystem for obvious reasons with this post), then why don’t you take full advantage of it with the newly announced Panasonic Lumix DMC-3D1?

       Yes sir, just like all other 3D cameras out there in the market, this particular model will also come with a twin-lens design so that it can shoot not only 3D images but stereoscopic 3D videos as well. Want to shoot regular stills without any eye-popping visuals? Not a problem, the Lumix DMC-3D1 does that equally well.

Dell M110 Ultra Mobile Projector

The advancement of miniaturization technology has resulted in many things becoming far smaller without sacrificing on performance – and the same can be said of the projector. Even until now, projectors are still rather bulky in size, but then again they certainly have shed plenty of weight over the years, and at least you need not wait until the bulb cools down completely before turning off the main power in select models. What happens when you take a shrinking ray and point it towards a projector? Why, you end up with the Dell M110 Ultra Mobile Projector, of course!

       The Dell M110 Ultra Mobile Projector is said to be more than just a projector, as it is a truly portable media hub that can see action either at home or at the office. It will tip the scales at a mere 0.8lbs, but despite the relatively small size, do not be deceived by its super small package – the M110 is still able to pack a punch!

Tiki Pepper Grinder

Somehow, when I see the Tiki Pepper Grinder, it reminds me of Captain Jack Sparrow and the many adventures that he went through, getting all exciting especially when he tries to run away from a tribe of cannibals (although there was not a single element of Tiki in the movie). The same kind of situation has also been depicted in many other adventure films, so why not bring home a little bit of movie magic into your dining room with the $15.99 Tiki Pepper Grinder?

       Definitely the perfect tool to perk up your luau or party, where pressing the Tiki’s nose will start the inner mechanism that grinds pepper within. This is nearly hands-free, but you sure as heck cannot deny that it is hassle free! Just like the original Game Boy, the Tiki Pepper Grinder will be powered by a quartet of AA batteries, although I am quite sure you will replace those batteries at a far slower rate than those on your Game Boy.